Game scorer



GAME SCORER I Filed May 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llQvElvrok 1 ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1936. R, H PAUL 2,058,496

GAME SCORER Filed May 12, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 27, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAME SCORER Ralph Herbert Paul, Capel Grange Farm, Five Oak Green, England 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to game scorers and declaration indicators and has particular application to those games in which a player wins either by making a gain of a predetermined numher of points, or loses by making a loss of such a number of points.

This invention relates to that class of game scorer which comprises within an enclosing panel a series of rotatable concentric annular scoring plates each having matter relevant to the game thereon and each having a circular series of holes therein, and a fixed cover with a series of circular slots and a corresponding series of windows therein, each slot registering with one of said series of holes and each window registering with the matter on one of said discs. This matter relevant to the game is printed upon the rotatable annular plates and shows through the windows in the cover.

According to the present invention the matter on one of said plates comprises a series of suit symbols and also numerals indicating the numbers of odd tricks contracted to be won, that is to say all the possible declarations which may be made, whilst on the other plates the matter comprises a series of numbers indicating the score.

For instance, the declaration may be shown in the middle, one players score on an annular plate outside this declaration plate and this players opponents score on outermost annular plate.

Further, according to the present invention, two circular slots may be substituted for each of the circular slots in the upper panel, which relate to the score-indicating plates. These two' slots will be of equal radii, with a short distance between them at each end so that each slot subtends a little less than 180 at the centre of the plate. Each slot is numbered but in different directions, thus if one slot is numbered in a clockwise direction, the other will be numbered in an anticlockwise direction. One of these slots is then used for gains and the other for losses. Thus if the player wins, the plate will be rotated in one direction whilst if he loses it will be rotated in the opposite direction. The figure shown in the corresponding window will give the present state of the players score. The series of numbers on the scoring plate will consist of two sets of concentric numbers arranged in opposite directions, for a positive score and a negative score respectively. They may be arranged in two concentric circles one inside the other, two windows being provided; the score will be shown in one of these two windows when it is positive and in the other when it is negative.

The declaration plate will have all the possible declarations printed on it and also a series of holes which will coincide with a slot in the panel; along this slot the various declarations are inscribed on the panel sothat there is one hole opposite each declaration.

A window or windows will be provided to show the chosen declaration and will be so situated that when the stylus is placed in the hole opposite this declaration and then moved to a predetermined stopusually the end of the slotthis same declaration will be shown in the window or windows. A further slot may be provided so that the stylus may be inserted in another single hole so positioned that when it is moved to a pre-arranged positionusually the end of this slotthe annular plate is returned to its zero position with each of the holes opposite its corresponding declaration.

In order to return the scoring plates to their zero position, certain of the holes on them may be marked so that the plate may be rotated until these holes are in a pre-arranged positionat the end of their circular slots for instance.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show a game scorer designed for use with the game known as five hundred.

Figure l is a plan view of one form of the scorer according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the scorer with the upper enclosing cover removed.

Figure 3 is a section of the cover along the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section along the line IV--IV of Figure 2.

The scorer consists of a pan shaped base I, upon which are mounted three rotatable annular flat plates 2, 3 and 4. These plates are enclosed by a cover 5. The inner plate 2 is provided with a circular series of holes 6 and also has all the possible declarations printed on it at 1. These declarations are also shown on the cover at 8 and when the plate 2 is in its zero position each of the holes 6 is opposite a declaration. In order to operate this plate a stylus is inserted in the hole opposite the final declaration and the plate 2 is rotated until the stylus is brought up against the end 9 of the slot. The final declaration will then be shown through the windows It) in the cover 5. It will be seen that these two windows are so arranged that when the plate is operated the declarations do not show through the slot in the cover adjacent to the markings 8. A zero hole I I is provided so that when the stylus moves this hole up to the end I2 of its slot the plate 2 is returned to its zero position and a blank space is shown in the windows H1.

The plate 3 is the scoring plate for one pair of the players whilst the plate 4 is for the other pair. It will only be necessary to describe the operation of one of these scoring plates for they are operated in identical ways.

The plate 3 is provided with a circular series of holes I3 which register with two slots l4 and IS. The plate 3 has printed on it two series l6 and H of figures from to 500, one set of figures being arranged in a clockwise direction, whilst the other in an anti-clockwise direction. The series 16 will show the score of one pair of players if it be positive, and the series I! the score if it be negative. A positive score is exhibited in the window [8 whilst a negative score is exhibited in the window Hi.

When a pair of players who are using the scoring plate 3 wins a number of points the stylus is inserted in the hole opposite that number in the slot 14 and the plate rotated until the stylus is brought up against the lower end 20. If they lose a. number of points, the stylus is inserted opposite that number in the slot and the disc 3 rotated until the stylus is against the end 2|- that is to say the plate is rotated in the opposite direction. It will be readily understood that the figures shown in either of the windows 18 or l9 indicate that pair of players score. When this score amounts to 500, whether positive or negative, the word Won or Lost as the case may be will appear in its appropriate window (Won in the window l8Lost in window IS).

The holes 22 are marked in any distinguishing manner so that at any time it is possible to put the stylus in one of them and reset the plate to its zero position as shown in Figure 1.

What I claim is:

1. A game scorer comprising a base, a flat annular scoring plate having a circular series of holes therein and also a series of score indicating numbers comprising two concentric arcuate sets of consecutive numbers of different radii each set subtending approximately 180 at its centre and said sets being arranged numerically from zeros upwards in opposite directions and concentric with said series of holes, the said plate being rotatably mounted on said base about the centre of said series, and a fixed cover enclosing said plate and having a pair of arcuate slots registering with said series of holes and also a pair of windows positioned so that simultaneously one registers with one zero while the other registers with the other zero.

2. A game scorer comprising a base, a fiat annular scoring plate having a circular series of holes therein and also a series of score indicating numbers comprising two concentric arcuate sets of consecutive numbers of diiferent radii each set subtending approximately 180 at its centre and said sets being arranged concentric with said series of holes and numerically in opposite directions from zeros which are diagonally opposite one another the said plate being rotatably mounted on said base about the centre of said series, and a fixed cover enclosing said plate and having a pair of arcuate slots registering with said series of holes and also a diagonally opposite pair of windows one registering with one set of numbers and the other registering with the other set of numbers.

RALPH HERBERT PAUL. 

